Can you stick a headgasket on without taking off the intake/exhast?

[HossHoffer]

Is it a good idea to bolt the manifolds back on before you put the head back in?

8700XJS

If they are already in place then leave them in place and torque up the head first. If it not then go ahead and bolt them up before dropping the head in. There is no one right way. Which ever makes sense for the situation. As a mechanic I prefer to leave as much stuff intact that I can.